Program Goals, Features & Outcomes

Program Goals

The PsyD in Clinical Psychology will prepare professional psychologist under a practitioner-scholar model in theoretical and scientific foundations; and to apply evidence-based interventions across a variety of contexts, problems and populations.

Graduates of the PsyD in Clinical Psychology will:

Develop a focus in integrated behavioral health that will allow them to work effectively with individuals and organizations across boundaries of economic, physical, psychological, sociocultural, and spiritual issues.

Be prepared using multidisciplinary approaches through a variety of modalities including consultation, psycho-education, advocacy, and direct clinical care.

Gain an understanding and sensitivity to providing behavioral health services to those who have been traditionally disadvantaged due to socioeconomic, race/ethnicity, gender, religion, or disability status or sexual orientation and others who are underserved in current health care systems.

Program Features

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program - Course of the Program

The program consists of four years of academic study, including four years of practica (1500-2000 hours), a professional project, and a ﬁfth year internship (1500-2000 hours applied toward licensure), typically completed at another institution. The level of complexity and the number of hours of practica increases each year throughout the first four years. Each practicum placement takes place in the community and includes a course on campus.

Admission is in the fall only, with year-round study during fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Some courses may be taken jointly with students in the Master of Science in Behavioral Health, the Master of Public Health, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs, and occasionally with students in other USF schools and colleges.

Credit will be given for courses taken at other accredited institutions that are substantially equivalent to those offered in the PsyD Program up to a maximum of 12 credit hours.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the PsyD in Clinical Psychology will acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to function in diverse settings to provide culturally competent, contextually sensitive, integrated behavioral health consultation to individuals and health professionals.

Graduates will:

Demonstrate knowledge of the historical and contemporary social and psychological theories of human development and behavior;

Integrate behavioral health knowledge, strategies, and skills that allow them to work effectively with individuals and organizations across boundaries of economic, physical, psychological, sociocultural, and spiritual issues.

Effectively utilize qualitative and quantitative empirical approaches to the understanding and evaluation of human behavior and psychological interventions;

Develop skills that will allow them to engage in and promote community-based interventions that advance the health and well-being of groups and individuals.

Learn to work in a variety of settings serving the underserved, whether in medical centers, community agencies or clinics, or as independent contractors or practitioners offering multiple modalities of behavioral health interventions.